New controls on Imported Food and Feed from Japan: for details of current restrictions, please click here|
One of our main duties is to control the importation of non-EU imported foodstuffs under both UK and EU legislation.
Products of Animal Origin (POAO)
Grangemouth is not an approved EU Border Inspection Post (BIP).
Importers intending to import products of animal origin (POAO) from non-EU countries MUST have had the consignment cleared at a BIP prior to arrival at Grangemouth and a Certificate of Veterinary Examination Document (CVED) obtained. They are also advised to check that all relevant conditions for that product and source are fulfilled prior to import. It should be noted that severe penalties are possible for non-compliance, including re-exporting or destruction of the consignment.
Advice is freely available from the Food Standards Agency| website or by contacting the Duty Port Health Officer.
EU Border Control information can be found here|.
All UK legislation can be obtained from the Office of Public Sector Information |website.
HM Revenue & Customs| are responsible for the control of smuggled illegal food imports.
Imported Food of Non-Animal Origin
Grangemouth is not a "Designated Point of Entry (DPE)" under the EU Regulations to receive specific types of high risk food cargoes such as Basmati rice, nuts, figs and vine fruits. Such products must be cleared at a DPE elsewhere prior to arrival at Grangemouth and a Certificate of Entry (CED) obtained. Further details on high risk foods and DPEs are available from the Food Standards Agency| website.
Consignments which arrive at Grangemouth without prior clearance may be liable to compulsory re-exportation or may be destroyed.
Other imported food cargoes are checked to ensure compliance with the Regulations. Consignments must comply with food safety and traceability requirements and comply with the many Additives, Labelling and Colouring Matter Regulations.
We take imported food samples for analysis and/or microbiological examination to assist our judgement or comply with agreed sampling regimes. Cargoes may be detained pending sample results and importers are advised to plan accordingly. Rejected consignments are destroyed or re-exported according to risk at the owner's expense. In some circumstances they may be allowed to proceed, under strict supervision for purposes other than for human consumption.
Plastic Kitchenware
Importers wishing to land plastic kitchenware from China or Hong Kong must now comply with The Plastic Kitchenware (Conditions on Imports from China) (Scotland) Regulations 2011, which implement Regulation (EU) No 284/2011. Full details on what is required can be found here|.
Organic Imports
The Organic Products Regulations 2009 require that imports of organic produce must be notified to the Authority in advance of arrival. Each consignment must be accompanied by a Certificate of Inspection from the country of origin. This certificate enables our Inspectors to check and verify the provenance of such consignments and endorse bona-fide certificates.
Importers and their agents are advised to consult with our Inspectors before proceeding. There is a charge to importers for this service.
Further information is available from the Defra website|.
Export Certificates for food consignments can be arranged by contacting the office. Such consignments are liable to our inspection and a service charge will be made.
PERSONAL FOOD IMPORTS
Please use the Defra foodchecker| for further information.